Ophryocystis

Ophryocystis
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Clade:	Sar
Clade:	Alveolata
Phylum:	Apicomplexa
Class:	Conoidasida
Order:	Neogregarinorida
Family:	Ophryocystidae
Genus:	Ophryocystis ; Schneider, 1883

Last updated October 23, 2025

Ophryocystis is a genus of neogregarine protozoan parasites that infect insects in the orders Coleoptera and Lepidoptera.^[1]Ophryocystis species with beetle hosts replicate in the Malpighian tubules, while those infecting butterflies do so in the hypodermis.^[2]

Species in this group

There are currently 16 described Ophryocystis species.^[1] The most well known and extensively studied is Ophryocystis elektroscirrha, which infects Danaus (monarch and queen) butterflies.^[3]

References

1 2 Müller-Theissen, Maria L.; Barriga, Paola; Yan, Katie; Gottdenker, Nicole L.; Altizer, Sonia M. (2025). "Museum collections reveal a global range of Ophryocystis parasites in Danaus butterflies". Ecological Entomology. 50 (3): 552–564. doi:10.1111/een.13426.
↑ McLaughlin, R. E.; Myers, J. (1970). "Ophryocystis elektroscirrha sp. n., a Neogregarine pathogen of the monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus (L.) and Florida queen butterfly D. Gilippus berenice Cramer". Journal of Protozoology. 17: 300–305. doi:10.1111/j.1550-7408.1970.tb02375.x.
↑ Mongue, A. J.; Martin, S. H.; Manweiler, R. E. V.; Scullion, H.; Koehn, J. L.; de Roode, J. C.; Walters, J. R (2023). "Genome sequence of Ophryocystis elektroscirrha, an apicomplexan parasite of monarch butterflies: cryptic diversity and response to host-sequestered plant chemicals". BMC Genomics. 24 (1): 278. doi: 10.1186/s12864-023-09350-0 . PMC 10210345 . PMID 37226080.

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[:0-1] 1 2 Müller-Theissen, Maria L.; Barriga, Paola; Yan, Katie; Gottdenker, Nicole L.; Altizer, Sonia M. (2025). "Museum collections reveal a global range of Ophryocystis parasites in Danaus butterflies". Ecological Entomology. 50 (3): 552–564. doi:10.1111/een.13426.

[2] McLaughlin, R. E.; Myers, J. (1970). "Ophryocystis elektroscirrha sp. n., a Neogregarine pathogen of the monarch butterfly Danaus plexippus (L.) and Florida queen butterfly D. Gilippus berenice Cramer". Journal of Protozoology. 17: 300–305. doi:10.1111/j.1550-7408.1970.tb02375.x.

[3] Mongue, A. J.; Martin, S. H.; Manweiler, R. E. V.; Scullion, H.; Koehn, J. L.; de Roode, J. C.; Walters, J. R (2023). "Genome sequence of Ophryocystis elektroscirrha, an apicomplexan parasite of monarch butterflies: cryptic diversity and response to host-sequestered plant chemicals". BMC Genomics. 24 (1): 278. doi: 10.1186/s12864-023-09350-0 . PMC 10210345 . PMID 37226080.

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